Channel 4 News understands very well that sportswriters need close relations with the football clubs they report on, but was Rangers just too cosy with some?
www.channel4.com
6 JAN 2012 11.43
Hi Craig, havenāt been sacked, havenāt resigned despite all the rumours. However, Iām almost certain I can get out within weeks if I insist. Do you want to talk? JT
6 JAN 2012 16.07
Hi Jim, Iām back in Glasgow next Friday. Letās meet up then and discuss. C.
6 JAN 2012 16.32
Okay, see you then.
Of course, thereās nothing wrong in looking for a new job ā we all do it all the time. And of course we donāt know the preamble to these texts, but the curio here is merely the context that an experienced journalist should apparently be seeking a job from Mr Whyte, should want to be part of his Rangers operation. Channel 4 News understands they did indeed meet and discuss a job at the club. One month after that text exchange ā one year ago this week ā Rangers filed legal papers at the Court of Sessions to appoint administrators.
Did James Traynor simply not know things were amiss?
Craig Whyte was banned by the Scottish football authorities from the game for bringing it into disrepute after Rangers ended up liquidated. They fined him Ā£200,000.
So there you have it. What so many fans long suspected is laid bare. James Traynor has since made it to Rangers under the new Charles Green regime on a reported six figure salary.
Today Mr Traynor, through channels at Ibrox, issued this statement to
Channel 4 News: āThese suggestions are malicious and misleading. Anyone who knows anything about events at Rangers knows that James Traynor, in his capacity as a journalist, was instrumental in exposing the activities of the Craig Whyte regime which are currently subject to criminal investigation.ā